Sack him now

[Spijed]

Plenty of clubs survive without parachute payments. We are not automatically entitled to be a "top" club.

How many are financially structured like we are though, with a leveraged buyout?

[Colburn_Claret]

Yeah, if someone is using xG in their argument against me then it’s worth using it back when I know I’m right, it cuts out biases.

It’s a comparison between the performance against QPR and other similar, if not worse, types of performances under VK. They happened, there’s no disguising that. Stylistically it was near the exact same but we didn’t have someone (Benson or JBG) to come on and win the game.

People have already forgotten that under Kompany we battered QPR, and got beat.
We could have done better with a couple of half chances,, but what we really lacked was luck.
I'm a firm believer you make your own luck, and if we continue like yesterday it will come.

[JohnMcGreal]

While I'm a bit disappointed in Parker's negativity on occasion, people have to remember that this is a seriously downgraded Burnley squad to the one started the season.

We can all question his tactical ability but I don't think it's unfair to say that the players he's been left with aren't exactly world beaters.

The comparison to Kompany's first season are pointless. There simply isn't anywhere near as much talent available to him. This season is not going to be remotely similar to 22/23. It's going to be a grind.

[Mattster]

We scored 5 goals from 7 shots with less total xG than yesterday (1.2) which further backs up my point that we had far more clinical finishing. The game was also a bit more open with Wigan being the worst team in the league by a distance and them trying to play a bit (possession 54/46) unlike the 11 players QPR had in their own third for most of the game - so not the most like for like example, the others above are better.

Again, focusing on the xG over the performance. Whilst also intentionally misrepresenting what it shows (I'd say misunderstanding but I know you know better than to interpret xG this way).

That xG from 7 chances is better than yesterday and not at all similar. Fewer good quality chances is better than lots of abysmal quality chances (as you know).

You can argue the xG total but it's only going to turn people away from the stat when you misrepresent it as such and try to pass off a game where we scored 5 open play goals inside the area, 3 from central areas and 2 between the 6byard box and penalty spot as similar (even worse ) to yesterday.

[jojomk1]

Anyone would think we were 2nd from bottom

QPR are second from bottom and just got their first clean sheet of the season away at Turf Moor

Parker's tactics are a bit baffling and negative
We started with three central midfielders none of whom were given the outright responsibility to support Flemming, hence the lack of support for a striker up front yet again.
In the end he was coming deep or going out wide to try and get some possession leaving nobody up front at all !!
We end the game playing almost a 4-1-5 formation desperately looking for a goal and leaving ourselves open to a break from them
Flemming is not a No 9 - his success at Millwall was as a No 10
Playing a team second bottom in the league was an ideal opportunity to at least play people in their favoured positions
Jay or "Houdini" up front with Flemming just behind
We dominate a game and yet our man of the match is a right back which shows the flaws within this side and formation

Parker has been restricted in terms of a still unbalanced squad but current injuries coming back will have little future effect especially up front

The current situation, injuries aside, is down to an wholley inexperienced Chairman who lost control (if he actually had any) of our recruitment process over the previous seasons

Parker will not be sacked but he could make better use of the current assets until Jan when hopefully someone within the recruitment team will actually earn their money

[RVclaret]

Again, focusing on the xG over the performance. Whilst also intentionally misrepresenting what it shows (I'd say misunderstanding but I know you know better than to interpret xG this way).

That xG from 7 chances is better than yesterday and not at all similar. Fewer good quality chances is better than lots of abysmal quality chances (as you know).

You can argue the xG total but it's only going to turn people away from the stat when you misrepresent it as such and try to pass off a game where we scored 5 open play goals inside the area, 3 from central areas and 2 between the 6byard box and penalty spot as similar (even worse ) to yesterday.

You use it frequently to denote performances. Before you referred to us having around the third worst attacking performances on this premise. I understand what you are saying obv, albeit there was 1 ‘big chance’ yesterday and 2 in that Wigan game, so not exactly a major difference there. Back to my original point that it’s not very easy creating open play chances against teams with that many bodies in the box, and we struggled in similar games under VK. The style of play yesterday and shape (2-3-5 with both full backs inverting and two 8s pushing alongside Flemming) was very similar - in my opinion we just missed the clinical finishing / guile that we had from a different profile of players that season.

[Jakubs Tash]

There’s a lot of opinions based on stats on this forum. 75% possession, 22 shots, XG….. blah blah blah

They don’t mean all that much and I prefer to watch the game myself and form an opinion with my eyes rather than with stats. It’s pretty boring.

[pushpinpussy]

The football is abysmal. Absolutely shambolic.

Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?

[taio]

The only important stat yesterday was that we scored zero goals at home against a poor side.

[CoolClaret]

Embarrassing thread - sick of the entitled morons in our fanbase that think their feelings justify sacking a manager who has us sitting 2nd in the league, especially given the context of what happened in the summer/two weeks into the season.

I could only imagine how they'd feel under the same level of scrutiny in their jobs.

If we had better attackers on the pitch yesterday, we would have won that game 3 or 4-0 quite comfortably.

[ervi34]

Yes he is, imagine comparing a side that is near the bottom in terms of XG, shots on target and chances created with that Kompany side.

101 points, 87 goals and 29 wins in 46 games.

Trying to compare the two sides is the most disingenuous bullshit, it’s an absolute insult to that heroic Kompany side to be compared to this blunt ponderous bag of crap.

Kompany is a better manager but he also had a better squad. And even he had problems breaking teams down and at times relied on individual quality.

[Mattster]

You use it frequently to denote performances. Before you referred to us having around the third worst attacking performances on this premise. I understand what you are saying obv, albeit there was 1 ‘big chance’ yesterday and 2 in that Wigan game, so not exactly a major difference there. Back to my original point that it’s not very easy creating open play chances against teams with that many bodies in the box, and we struggled in similar games under VK. The style of play yesterday and shape (2-3-5 with both full backs inverting and two 8s pushing alongside Flemming) was very similar - in my opinion we just missed the clinical finishing / guile that we had from a different profile of players that season.

Yes. But we have both the 3rd worst xG total and the 3rd worst xG per shot. The (lack of) quality of chances we're creating is in line with the (lack of) quantity of chances created. So I'm using it consistently and not intentionally misrepresenting it.

And I really disagree it was anything similar to the performances of two years ago. The only similarities are the formation and amount of possession, we were still ponderous and disjointed with possession for the sake of it. We still looked more like Southgate's England than anything else.

I stand by my point that some people, Parker included, considering that our "best performance of the season" is a damning indictment of Parker's management.

[Robbie_painter]

Haven’t read the whole thread but while sacking him is a bit extreme I’ll be honest in 40 odd years of being a claret this is the only team that I’m struggling to watch.

[RVclaret]

Yes. But we have both the 3rd worst xG total and the 3rd worst xG per shot. The (lack of) quality of chances we're creating is in line with the (lack of) quantity of chances created. So I'm using it consistently and not intentionally misrepresenting it.

And I really disagree it was anything similar to the performances of two years ago. The only similarities are the formation and amount of possession, we were still ponderous and disjointed with possession for the sake of it. We still looked more like Southgate's England than anything else.

I stand by my point that some people, Parker included, considering that our "best performance of the season" is a damning indictment of Parker's management.

I’m definitely not denying we aren’t lacking in good chance creation, I fully agree (although FotMob has us with the 5th worst not 3rd). I do find it interesting that Sheff Utd (a fellow relegated side who also ripped up their team and have needed to blend a new one together) are performing similarly in chance creation (using your measure they’d be very marginally ahead if Anthony’s open net miss was included). Is this because it does actually take time to blend a new team, and get used to breaking teams down? I noticed Wilder saying things along those lines and fans saying they are relying on individuals.

Southgate’s England were very successful overall so I’m not sure on the dig. Carsley’s England looked pretty much the same. I’m surprised you disagree yesterday wasn’t similar to some of the performances I outlined in the previous list, they were near replicas in my view, so we’ll agree to disagree there.

[Anonymous Claret]

This is 1 of the most pathetic threads I have seen on here.

Some factual information for all you drama queens and non Burnley fans to digest.

1. Kompany has left us. He has gone. Start trying to support the team. The promotion season was 1 of the best seasons I have had watching Burnley FC in over 50 years but he is now no longer with us. I have always supported BFC not Coyle, Dyche or Kompany as much as I loved those guys being our manager.
2. As RV Claret states the style of play is very similar to how Kompany played. Roberts who was rightfully MOM yesterday was playing in an inverted right back role. We had Laurent and Brownhill supporting Flemming, Koleosho and Anthony.
3. Kompany had to completely rebuild the squad but he had more time to do it than Parker. A lot of players who left the club went at the end of the previous season or early in the window giving Kompany time to assemble the squad that he wanted.
4. Parker probably thought that some of the players who left very late in the window may have been staying.
5. Kompany also had the world cup break to work on the squad as most of the players didn't go to Qatar. Parker won't have that luxury.
6. Who knew Kompany would pick up on loan a CL finalist in Maatsen and a Bundesliga winner in Tella?
7. We had nowhere near as many injuries as the 22-23 season. Can you imagine how good we would be if we had Tresor, Ramsey, Redmond, Benson, Sarmiento and Foster to call on every match?
8. How many times did Kompany make the right substitution that season to affect games in our favour? Our bench is very weak at the moment compared to 22-23.
9. After saying all that we are 2nd in the league and have only been beat once all season. If we are still around the top 6 around Christmas time, hopefully some of our injured players will return and we can make a real push for automatic promotion.

[CoolClaret]

People are going on about chance creation with xG but failing to mention the xG differential (which is what matters if you want to consistently, which is 4th best in the division.

[123EasyasBFC]

Yes. But we have both the 3rd worst xG total and the 3rd worst xG per shot. The (lack of) quality of chances we're creating is in line with the (lack of) quantity of chances created. So I'm using it consistently and not intentionally misrepresenting it.

And I really disagree it was anything similar to the performances of two years ago. The only similarities are the formation and amount of possession, we were still ponderous and disjointed with possession for the sake of it. We still looked more like Southgate's England than anything else.

I stand by my point that some people, Parker included, considering that our "best performance of the season" is a damning indictment of Parker's management.

First half was our best performance of the season and on another day we go in at half time 2 or 3 up. We are 12 games into what’s been a weird stop start season with transfers and international breaks. We have another international break in 3 games time and then that’s it till march.

Is it not fair to give Parker a chance when he has a full run of fixtures and some players back fit.

Yes the games recently haven’t been great recently but are really only a terrible Sarmiento miss away at Oxford and a terrible Anthony miss away at hull from having another 4 points

[123EasyasBFC]

This is 1 of the most pathetic threads I have seen on here.

Some factual information for all you drama queens and non Burnley fans to digest.

1. Kompany has left us. He has gone. Start trying to support the team. The promotion season was 1 of the best seasons I have had watching Burnley FC in over 50 years but he is now no longer with us. I have always supported BFC not Coyle, Dyche or Kompany as much as I loved those guys being our manager.
2. As RV Claret states the style of play is very similar to how Kompany played. Roberts who was rightfully MOM yesterday was playing in an inverted right back role. We had Laurent and Brownhill supporting Flemming, Koleosho and Anthony.
3. Kompany had to completely rebuild the squad but he had more time to do it than Parker. A lot of players who left the club went at the end of the previous season or early in the window giving Kompany time to assemble the squad that he wanted.
4. Parker probably thought that some of the players who left very late in the window may have been staying.
5. Kompany also had the world cup break to work on the squad as most of the players didn't go to Qatar. Parker won't have that luxury.
6. Who knew Kompany would pick up on loan a CL finalist in Maatsen and a Bundesliga winner in Tella?
7. We had nowhere near as many injuries as the 22-23 season. Can you imagine how good we would be if we had Tresor, Ramsey, Redmond, Benson, Sarmiento and Foster to call on every match?
8. How many times did Kompany make the right substitution that season to affect games in our favour? Our bench is very weak at the moment compared to 22-23.
9. After saying all that we are 2nd in the league and have only been beat once all season. If we are still around the top 6 around Christmas time, hopefully some of our injured players will return and we can make a real push for automatic promotion.

Great post this

[taio]

Embarrassing thread - sick of the entitled morons in our fanbase that think their feelings justify sacking a manager who has us sitting 2nd in the league, especially given the context of what happened in the summer/two weeks into the season.

I could only imagine how they'd feel under the same level of scrutiny in their jobs.

If we had better attackers on the pitch yesterday, we would have won that game 3 or 4-0 quite comfortably.

Moronic is the right word. It's staggeringly stupid calling him to be sacked when we are second in the league table.

[123EasyasBFC]

Haven’t read the whole thread but while sacking him is a bit extreme I’ll be honest in 40 odd years of being a claret this is the only team that I’m struggling to watch.

You are struggling to watch this team more than last seasons team who were pretty much out of every game they played after 50 minutes?

You didn’t struggle watching the second half of the 09/10 season under laws

[Mattster]

Southgate’s England were very successful overall so I’m not sure on the dig.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=75932&p=2360986&hil ... e#p2360986

How bored have you been watching England play?

Parker’s football is a carbon copy of Southgate.

Personally I don’t want to watch that all season, and just cause he’s won 2 promotions (just about) with 2 standout squads, doesn’t mean he will again. I mean look at Daniel ‘guaranteed promotion’ Farke last season.

[Mattster]

This is 1 of the most pathetic threads I have seen on here.

Some factual information for all you drama queens and non Burnley fans to digest.

1. Kompany has left us. He has gone. Start trying to support the team. The promotion season was 1 of the best seasons I have had watching Burnley FC in over 50 years but he is now no longer with us. I have always supported BFC not Coyle, Dyche or Kompany as much as I loved those guys being our manager.

You might want to look at who is bringing up Kompany before you use it dig out those unhappy with Parker. It is always those talking up Parker who bring Kompany up first.

[123EasyasBFC]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=75932&p=2360986&hil ... e#p2360986

If you personally don’t want to watch it all season, don’t bother watching it then, if you don’t bother watching it you don’t need to come on here or X with your I told you so and XG stats.

[CoolClaret]

People are going on about chance creation with xG but failing to mention the xG differential (which is what matters if you want to consistently, which is 4th best in the division.

I'm not sure what happened here, I meant to post
***(which is what matters if you want to consistently win games/pick up points), which is 4th best in the division.****

[Mattster]

If you personally don’t want to watch it all season, don’t bother watching it then, if you don’t bother watching it you don’t need to come on here or X with your I told you so and XG stats.

You might want to check who I'm quoting there.

[RVclaret]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=75932&p=2360986&hil ... e#p2360986

I’ll admit this was a stupid, reactionary and irrational take from me at the time after a rather awful performance or two at the Euros.

After that I also suggested I wanted Bellamy over Parker, no hiding it, he wasn’t my pick. But I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how he’s done and always said I’d be objective after the appointment, which I feel I have been.

[123EasyasBFC]

You might want to check who I'm quoting there.

Still aimed at you because you are one of those that comes on here and on X and can’t wait for Parker to fail to say I told you so, you been doing it all season, you got your big chance creation statement wrong and got called out for it so stayed quiet for a couple of weeks at least

[Mattster]

I’ll admit this was a stupid, reactionary and irrational take from me at the time after a rather awful performance or two at the Euros.

After that I also suggested I wanted Bellamy over Parker, no hiding it, he wasn’t my pick. But I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how he’s done and always said I’d be objective after the appointment, which I feel I have been.

It's what you felt about Southgate's England whilst watching Southgate's England. Not your revised view on it now it's in the past and you're reframing it to fit in with where you've planted your flag.

What we are watching now is exactly the same as what we were watching in the Summer, not what we were watching 2 years ago.

[RVclaret]

It's what you felt about Southgate's England whilst watching Southgate's England. Not your revised view on it now it's in the past and you're reframing it to fit in with where you've planted your flag.

What we are watching now is exactly the same as what we were watching in the Summer, not what we were watching 2 years ago.

Looking back at my post it was stupid because I hadn’t seen anywhere near enough of his previous teams to make that judgement, and it was irrational because comparing tournament international football to the Championship makes little sense. I don’t agree with that final bit tbh, and I enjoyed most of Southgate’s tenure and football, I felt his issue was stubbornness on personnel and decision making, but still v successful. Appreciate you going for the gotcha rather than discussing a more important point in my previous post btw.

[Clovius Boofus]

I'd have flushed myself down the toilet if I had started this thread.

[Poulton-le-Claret]

Should be winning games like QPR at home, no getting away from that for me, but sacking is a crazy shout.

We need to stay in and around the top until January and then sign a striker. Pace has left us criminally light in that department. Desperately need to sort out the injury list as well, the attacking options off the bench are poor.

[Mattster]

Still aimed at you because you are one of those that comes on here and on X and can’t wait for Parker to fail to say I told you so, you been doing it all season, you got your big chance creation statement wrong and got called out for it so stayed quiet for a couple of weeks at least

I didn't get the big chance statement wrong. I used the definition I've always used (chances over 0.3xG), a quite common one. Then people who don't understand and simply parrot a number they read on Fotmob parroted a number they read on Fotmob as if that made me wrong.

If I was wrong then every stat provider is wrong as they all have their own definitions and thus all give different figures for it.

And I don't want Parker to fail, I want him to succeed. I've been consistent in what I'm looking for. When there have been improvements I have been quick to praise them. But where there are none I'm not going to delude myself into saying they're there. If yesterday is genuinely being accepted the "best performance of the season" that's more damning than anything I've said about Parker.

[123EasyasBFC]

I didn't get the big chance statement wrong. I used the definition I've always used (chances over 0.3xG), a quite common one. Then people who don't understand and simply parrot a number they read on Fotmob parroted a number they read on Fotmob as if that made me wrong.

If I was wrong then every stat provider is wrong as they all have their own definitions and thus all give different figures for it.

And I don't want Parker to fail, I want him to succeed. I've been consistent in what I'm looking for. When there have been improvements I have been quick to praise them. But where there are none I'm not going to delude myself into saying they're there. If yesterday is genuinely being accepted the "best performance of the season" that's more damning than anything I've said about Parker.

How can you not think that first half was the best since Luton, we actually played better first half than at Luton but QPR but in 2 blocks to keep it at 0-0, it happens it’s football.

How many times under dyche should we of gone in at half time losing but tarky and mee pulled us out

[Clovius Boofus]

Blimey. Now I've had a look - it's not only this thread either. We haven't half picked up some entitled fans along the way. What a sorry bunch of embarrassments.

[The Shire Claret]

Haven’t read the whole thread but while sacking him is a bit extreme I’ll be honest in 40 odd years of being a claret this is the only team that I’m struggling to watch.

I know you and others are a bit miffed at the minute but come on lol

I remember a certain season where Chris Waddle was in charge and we didn’t see a goal at home for 5-6 games

The highlight of those first games was that we hit the post once !!

A bit of perspective sometimes helps

UTC

[Mattster]

Looking back at my post it was stupid because I hadn’t seen anywhere near enough of his previous teams to make that judgement, and it was irrational because comparing tournament international football to the Championship makes little sense. I don’t agree with that final bit tbh, and I enjoyed most of Southgate’s tenure and football, I felt his issue was stubbornness on personnel and decision making, but still v successful. Appreciate you going for the gotcha rather than discussing a more important point in my previous post btw.

What important point? The Sheffield United one again?

I don't think Wilder is doing a great job with the players at his disposal either. I feel he is a manager who has been left behind. So holding them/him up as a comparison holds little weight for me. A better manager gets more out of that squad, same as us, IMO.

He's also doing better than Parker.

[The Shire Claret]

Blimey. Now I've had a look - it's not only this thread either. We haven't half picked up some entitled fans along the way. What a sorry bunch of embarrassments.

This is my thoughts exactly - Bolton fans were the same complaining in the PL that they wanted Europe -

Charlton , Middlesbrough, Wigan … I could go on

I never though I would ever regard our fan base as entitled but it seems quite a few are

[claretspice]

Seems to me a fair analysis of yesterday has to reflect:

(i) yesterday was, overall, light years better than the Preston and Portsmouth games, and also considerably better than the Plymouth game there was much clearer evidence of how we were trying to create chances and our build up was more coherent, at least until the substitutions. In that sense it was promising. In isolation there wasn't much wrong with the performance and QPR defended well.

(ii) injuries are playing their part - it is not ideal that the same front 3 had to play all 3 games this week, and Flemming in particular is still clearly feeling his way in. Having retained Tresor and had him training for a month, it would be good to start seeing him soon. Redmond and Ramsey will also make a difference and Sarmiento's knock was unfortunate. We still haven't seen Flemming and Foster together and yesterday would have been an opportunity for that.

(iii) for all that, there are some concerning limitations on how the team are operating. Too often we have too few players in the box when we work opportunities. We don't show enough ambition to make the pitch big often enough (we tried only one big switch to Koleosho, in space throughout the 75 minutes he was on the right). We are too pedantic around the box at times. Our set plays lack imagination and quality. Humphrys at full back rather than the more creative Pires smacked of caution.

(Iv) some of that is exposing personnel shortcomings. Anthony looks diligent and steady rather than a top player at this level. Laurent and Hannibal are goid industrious players but neithee offers the creativity or quality in possession we needed to replace those who have departed. At full back, whilst Roberts and Pires look good players, neither offers the injection of pace to the attack that Vitinho (or two seasons ago, Maatsen) offered. Given Hountondji doesn't look ready, allowing Obafemi to go on loan without a direct replacement looks questionable. We lack both genuine pace (Koleosho aside) and genuine craftsmanship, in the front 5.

Some of those shortcomings are at Parker's door, and some are circumstances he has to work with. I'd like to see how this pattern of play works with Tresor, Flemming and Foster in tandem. But I'd also like to see us be a bit more flexible. If you end up with a midfield of Laurent and Brownhill, with two forwards who arent quick, you've got to be a bit more direct. Ultimately if you are repeatedly struggling to score against lower end teams something is not right and the rate of improvement has to get quicker if that is to be fixed before promotion gets away from us.

[warksclaret]

Seems to me a fair analysis of yesterday has to reflect:

(i) yesterday was, overall, light years better than the Preston and Portsmouth games, and also considerably better than the Plymouth game there was much clearer evidence of how we were trying to create chances and our build up was more coherent, at least until the substitutions. In that sense it was promising. In isolation there wasn't much wrong with the performance and QPR defended well.

(ii) injuries are playing their part - it is not ideal that the same front 3 had to play all 3 games this week, and Flemming in particular is still clearly feeling his way in. Having retained Tresor and had him training for a month, it would be good to start seeing him soon. Redmond and Ramsey will also make a difference and Sarmiento's knock was unfortunate. We still haven't seen Flemming and Foster together and yesterday would have been an opportunity for that.

(iii) for all that, there are some concerning limitations on how the team are operating. Too often we have too few players in the box when we work opportunities. We don't show enough ambition to make the pitch big often enough (we tried only one big switch to Koleosho, in space throughout the 75 minutes he was on the right). We are too pedantic around the box at times. Our set plays lack imagination and quality. Humphrys at full back rather than the more creative Pires smacked of caution.

(Iv) some of that is exposing personnel shortcomings. Anthony looks diligent and steady rather than a top player at this level. Laurent and Hannibal are goid industrious players but neithee offers the creativity or quality in possession we needed to replace those who have departed. At full back, whilst Roberts and Pires look good players, neither offers the injection of pace to the attack that Vitinho (or two seasons ago, Maatsen) offered. Given Hountondji doesn't look ready, allowing Obafemi to go on loan without a direct replacement looks questionable. We lack both genuine pace (Koleosho aside) and genuine craftsmanship, in the front 5.

Some of those shortcomings are at Parker's door, and some are circumstances he has to work with. I'd like to see how this pattern of play works with Tresor, Flemming and Foster in tandem. But I'd also like to see us be a bit more flexible. If you end up with a midfield of Laurent and Brownhill, with two forwards who arent quick, you've got to be a bit more direct. Ultimately if you are repeatedly struggling to score against lower end teams something is not right and the rate of improvement has to get quicker if that is to be fixed before promotion gets away from us.

A good and comprehensive assessment Spice. The one thing that is bugging me now that we only have one serious forward thats fit, and not available for Millwall, is why if we could not get a fee for Amdouini, did we let him out on loan. I am convinced had he stayed we might be closer to Sunderland and have a better chance conversion

[RVclaret]

What important point? The Sheffield United one again?

I don't think Wilder is doing a great job with the players at his disposal either. I feel he is a manager who has been left behind. So holding them/him up as a comparison holds little weight for me. A better manager gets more out of that squad, same as us, IMO.

He's also doing better than Parker.

Yeah, and fair enough views… I think all 3 relegated teams haven’t been great despite their quality yet Parker and Wilder had to blend new teams together (Parker even later than Wilder, and Wilder didn’t sell any of his best players). Both have built solid foundations at the back though. And ‘doing better than Parker’ is correct but also very marginal right now. Another defeat for Luton yesterday despite a far higher total xG than us. As CC said the xGD is arguably more important and ours is top 4 without the top end really clicking yet (it might never!).

[claretspice]

A good and comprehensive assessment Spice. The one thing that is bugging me now that we only have one serious forward thats fit, and not available for Millwall, is why if we could not get a fee for Amdouini, did we let him out on loan. I am convinced had he stayed we might be closer to Sunderland and have a better chance conversion

My understanding is that Benfica have an obligation to buy Amdouni so in effect we did get a fee. I'm probably more critical of the decision to allow Obafemi to leave on a genuine loan when we were clearly light up front, without replacing him with someone of a similar ilk. Injuries to Foster are unfortunate but we made ourselves a bit of a hostage to fortune with that decision, although of course we don't know what went on behind the scenes. Ultimately the replacements for Zaroury, Gudmundsson, Vitinho and even Obafemi - the players who left that we might have expected to be with us this season - have not thus far looked to be of the same standard as those who have departed.

[Clive 1960]

How can some people want him sacked when we are 2nd in the league , are those the ones who wouldn't talk up about Kompany last season when things were bad but the manager wouldn't change....

[Mattster]

How can you not think that first half was the best since Luton, we actually played better first half than at Luton but QPR but in 2 blocks to keep it at 0-0, it happens it’s football.

You could argue the first half was up there, but personally think you're exaggerating those chances. As per usual though we were decent (let's not kid ourselves and say we were anything more than that, I'm not having what we've served up being described as good) for, at best, 45 minutes and then we were not for the next 45.

It's been nothing but being decent for a half or, more often, 20 minutes all season (rather amusingly it was a single <30 second passage of play in one widely praised post). It's always "that's what the template is" or something to that effect. Only it doesn't develop into anything more than that.

Our last 4 home games have been against 16th, 21st, 23rd and 24th in the league. We've scored 3 goals. 2 goals from open play, both from outside of the area. And, if we're honest, it's not like we have justified anything more than that.

[warksclaret]

The bottom line is we are not far off being a very good team. If for example, and its a big if, we got Tella on loan in January, and managed to find a proper No 9, with our wide men coming off the treatment table, we would be quite a force. What Parker was unable to do was to inherit a Tella, Maatsen, Beyer, and in form Benson & Zarourry, plus a two year younger Jayrod.

[quoonbeatz]

Playing 451 at home to absolute fodder like qpr is ridiculous. We had the players available to not do that.

[agreenwood]

Clearly calling for a manager’s head 12 games into a season is ludicrous, regardless of league position. It’s even crazier when you’re sat 2nd.

However, 8 goals in the last 10 games is a problem. We won’t be in the top two for much longer if that doesn’t improve. I think fundamentally it is about quality. We won’t have a striker who is able to stretch or move the centre halves. It was telling yesterday how flat footed we are every time a ball is played into the box. I sat and watched Delap score for Ipswich on MOTD by making a run across the centre half to meet a cross and wondered who can do that for us.

We also have far too much harmless possession. Nobody takes a chance in the final third because we’re scared of losing the ball. To this point, for all the discussions about stats, I think the low number free kicks we win in the attacking third is the most telling. You win free kicks by putting opponents under duress and making them panic. We had 75% of the ball yesterday and didn’t do that enough. I think after the last ditch tackle on Roberts about 25 mins into the game, QPR were largely able to defend comfortably.

[Mattster]

My understanding is that Benfica have an obligation to buy Amdouni so in effect we did get a fee.

Think it was reported they have an option to buy at roughly what we paid for Amdouni. They're also paying a fee for the season (think this was around £2m) and if they choose not to activate the option to buy they will have to pay a further £2m at the end of the season.

[claretspice]

You could argue the first half was up there, but personally think you're exaggerating those chances. As per usual though we were decent (let's not kid ourselves and say we were anything more than that, I'm not having what we've served up being described as good) for, at best, 45 minutes and then we were not for the next 45.

It's been nothing but being decent for a half or, more often, 20 minutes all season (rather amusingly it was a single <30 second passage of play in one widely praised post). It's always "that's what the template is" or something to that effect. Only it doesn't develop into anything more than that.

Our last 4 home games have been against 16th, 21st, 23rd and 24th in the league. We've scored 3 goals. 2 goals from open play, both from outside of the area. And, if we're honest, it's not like we have justified anything more than that.

The first half was, regardless of the opposition, good. Tee to green we looked a cohesive, well coached team. We created 3 or 4 very decent openings which QPR deserve credit for shutting down at the last minute. We missed a very good chance through Humphrys. Particularly when you allow for 6 credible first team attackers being absent through injury, it was good. There were shortcomings yesterday that became increasingly obvious as the game wore on and there are trends that can't be ignored, but if you can't accept the first half yesterday was basically good, I don't think you're starting the argument objectively.

[claretspice]

Think it was reported they have an option to buy at roughly what we paid for Amdouni. They're also paying a fee for the season (think this was around £2m) and if they choose not to activate the option to buy they will have to pay a further £2m at the end of the season.

Happy to see the reports that said that. I thought it was clarified ultimately as an obligation to buy. The latter makes sense for us, the former does not.

[RVclaret]

Playing 451 at home to absolute fodder like qpr is ridiculous. We had the players available to not do that.

It was more 2-3-5 in possession. Pretty much everyone wanted Laurent in and were quite upset he didn’t play the other night. Out of interest what would you have gone for with the personnel available? I’d suggested Hountondji and Flemming as a 2 but not sure the former looks up to it yet after another appearance (albeit in a weird shape by that point), and Jay Rod looked yards off the pace unfortunately…